A big development today, as Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) declares he intends to take over the chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's subcommittee on Energy and the Environment. Markey disclosed this in today’s Boston Globe:

This is a very significant development, and one that should enhance the prospects for good global warming legislation in this Congress.

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Markey will be bumping Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA), a nice guy but one wedded to protecting the interests of the coal industry. Markey’s move is part of a changing of the guard in Congress that began when Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) deposed Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) as chair of the full Energy and Commerce Committee.

And this, by the way, is also good news for Waxman. As chairman of the full committee, Waxman needs someone with juice to stake out a position to his political left. Markey is just the person to do this. He is, of course, also close to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The change is expected to be ratified today at a meeting of the House Democratic Caucus.